Tenside granulates comprising fatty alcohol sulfate and olefin sulfonates

ABSTRACT

A surfactant composition containing: (a) from about 75 to 97% by weight of a fatty alcohol sulfate; and (b) from about 3 to 25% by weight of an olefin sulfonate, all weights being based on the total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition is in granular form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to surfactant granules of fatty alcohol sulfatesand olefin sulfonates, to a process for their production and to the useof olefin sulfonates for improving the solubility of fatty alcoholsulfate granules in cold water.

Anionic surfactants, more particularly alkyl sulfates or fatty alcoholsulfates, are important constituents of laundry detergents, dishwashingdetergents and cleaners. In the process used to produce them, anionicsurfactants are obtained in the form of water-containing pastes withwater contents of 30 to 75% by weight. In order to obtain solidproducts, the water-containing pastes are dried, for example inspray-drying towers, or are produced by drying and simultaneousgranulation, more particularly in a fluidized bed. It is known, forexample from European patent EP 0603207B, that water-containing pastesof alkyl sulfates can be converted into granules of high bulk density bydrying and simultaneous granulation in a continuous fluidized bed. It isalso possible in this process to incorporate inorganic or organiccarrier materials.

C_(6/18) fatty alcohol sulfate granules produced by simultaneous dryingand granulation show inadequate solubility and dispersibility at lowtemperatures. Since the solution to this problem is very important forcold washing processes, the problem addressed by the present inventionwas to improve the dissolving and dispersing behavior of granularC_(1/8) fatty alcohol sulfates at low temperatures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to surfactant granules consisting of

(a) 75 to 97% by weight, preferably 85 to 95% by weight of fatty alcoholsulfates and

(b) 3 to 25% by weight, preferably 5 to 15% by weight of olefinsulfonates, with the proviso that the quantities add up to 100% byweight.

The present invention also relates to a process for the production ofsurfactant granules in which a water-containing paste of component (a)is simultaneously dried and granulated in the presence of component (b).In another embodiment, the invention relates to the use of olefinsulfonates in quantities of 3 to 25% by weight for improving thesolubility of fatty alcohol sulfate granules in cold water.

It has surprisingly been found that, even in small quantities, olefinsulfonates improve the dissolving and dispersing behavior of granularC_(16/18) fatty alcohol sulfates, even at low temperatures. Accordingly,it is of advantage to use olefin sulfonate/fatty alcohol sulfategranules for low-temperature washing processes.

Fatty Alcohol Sulfates

Fatty alcohol sulfates which form component (a) are understood to bealkyl sulfates corresponding to formula (I):

R¹O—SO₃X  (I)

in which R¹ is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturatedhydrocarbon radical containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms and X is an alkalimetal or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammoniumor glucammonium. Fatty alcohol sulfates are known anionic surfactantswhich are preferably obtained by sulfation of native fatty alcohols orsynthetic oxoalcohols and subsequent neutralization. Typical examples offatty alcohol sulfates are the sodium salts of sulfation products ofcaproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, 2-ethyl hexyl alcohol, capricalcohol, lauryl alcohol, isotridecyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetylalcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleylalcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, linolyl alcohol,linolenyl alcohol and elaeostearyl alcohol and the technical mixturesthereof obtained, for example, in the high-pressure hydrogenation oftechnical methyl esters based on fats and oils or aldehydes fromRoelen's oxo synthesis and as monomer fraction in the dimerization ofunsaturated fatty alcohols. Fatty alcohols containing 12 to 18 carbonatoms and more particularly 16 to 18 carbon atoms are preferably used.Typical examples are technical fatty alcohol sulfates.

Olefin sulfonates

The granules according to the invention contain as a further constituent(b) olefin sulfonates which are normally obtained by addition of SO₃onto olefins corresponding to formula (II):

R²CH=CH-R³  (II)

in which R² and R³ independently of one another represent H or alkylgroups containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R² and R³together contain at least 6 and preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms, andsubsequent hydrolysis and neutralization. Particulars of theirproduction and use can be found in a synoptic article published in J.Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 55, 70 (1978).

Internal olefin sulfonates may be used although α-olefin sulfonateswhich are obtained where R² or R³ is hydrogen are preferably used.Typical examples of the olefin sulfonates used are the sulfonationproducts obtained by reacting SO₃ with 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-octene, 1-, 2-, 3-,4-, 5-decene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-dodecene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-,7-tetradecene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-hexadecene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-,5-, 6-, 7-, 8, 9-octadecene, 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-,10-eicosene and 1-, 2-, 3-,4-, 5-, 6-10- and 11-docosene. Thesulfonation is followed by hydrolysis and neutralization, after whichthe olefin sulfonate is present in the mixture as an alkali metal,alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammonium orglucammonium salt and preferably as a sodium salt. The hydrolyzedα-olefin sulfonation product, i.e. the α-olefin sulfonates,advantageously consists of ca. 60% by weight of alkane sulfonates andca. 40% by weight of hydroxyalkane sulfonates, of which 80 to 85% byweight are monosulfonates and 15 to 20% by weight disulfonates.

Both olefin sulfonates in the form of water-containing pastes, forexample sodium olefin sulfonate (C₁₄₋₁₆), Elfan® OS 46 A (Akzo Nobel),and water-free products, for example sodium olefin sulfonate (C₁₄₋₁₆)Elfan® OS 46 P (Akzo Nobel), may be used.

The present invention also relates to a process for the production ofthe surfactant granules claimed in claim 1 in which a water-containingpaste of component (a) is simultaneously dried and granulated in thepresence of component (b).

SKET Granulation

A preferred possibility is to subject the water-containing surfactantpaste to so-called SKET granulation. SKET granulation is understood tobe a simultaneous granulation and drying process preferably carried outin batches or continuously in a fluidized bed. To this end, awater-containing paste of component (a), for example a 30 to 65% byweight surfactant paste, and component (b) are introduced simultaneouslyor successively into the fluidized bed through one or more nozzles. Ifcomponent (b) is present as a solid, it is advisable to introduce itinto the fluidized bed through a solids metering unit. Preferredfluidized-bed arrangements have base plates measuring 0.4 to 5 m. TheSKET granulation is preferably carried out at fluidizing air flow ratesof 1 to 8 m/s. The granules are preferably discharged from the fluidizedbed via a sizing stage. Sizing may be carried out, for example, by meansof a sieve or by an air stream flowing in countercurrent (sizing air)which is controlled in such a way that only particles beyond a certainsize are removed from the fluidized bed while smaller particles areretained in the fluidized bed. The inflowing air is normally made up ofthe heated or unheated sizing air and the heated bottom air. Thetemperature of the bottom air is between 80 and 400° C. and preferablybetween 90 and 350° C. A starting material, preferably SKET granulesfrom an earlier test batch, is advantageously introduced at thebeginning of the SKET granulation process. The water from the fattyalcohol sulfate paste evaporates in the fluidized bed, resulting in theformation of partly dried to fully dried nuclei which are coated withfurther quantities of fatty alcohol surfactants and with olefinsulfonates, granulated and again simultaneously dried. Reference is madein this connection to the Its teaching of German patent applications DE4303211 A1 and DE 4303176 A1 of which the disclosures are herebyspecifically included in the present specification.

Flash Dryer

The simultaneous drying and granulation process may also be carried outin a horizontally arranged thin-layer evaporator with rotating internalsof the type marketed, for example, by the VRV company under the name of“Flash Dryer”. In simple terms, the flash dryer is a tube which can beheated to different temperatures over several zones. The paste-formstarting material, which is introduced by a pump, is projected onto theheated wall by one or more shafts fitted with paddles or plowshares asrotating internals and is dried on the heated wall in a thin layertypically with a thickness of 1 to 10 mm. According to the invention, ithas been found to be of advantage to apply a temperature gradient of170° C. (product entrance) to 20° C. (product exit) to the thin layerevaporator. To this end, the first two zones of the evaporator forexample may be heated to 160° C. and the last zone to 20° C. Higherdrying temperatures have not been found to be of advantage in view ofthe thermal lability of the starting materials. The thin-layerevaporator is operated at atmospheric pressure, air being passed throughin countercurrent (throughput about 50-150 m³/h). The gas entrytemperature is generally in the range from 20 to 30° C. while the exittemperature is in the range from 90 to 110° C.

Besides the drying and granulation of neutralized surfactant pastes, theacidic sulfonation products may also be subjected to sprayneutralization as described, for example, in EP 0319819 A1. In thisprocess, the acid and a highly concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide areseparately exposed to a gaseous medium, subsequently combined instoichiometric quantities, neutralized in a multicomponent nozzle andsprayed into the dryer/granulator under a high propellent gas pressure.

One advantage of the granules is that they are not tacky and have highbulk densities of 300 to 1,200 g/l and preferably 500 to 800 g/l.

Other Methods of Production

Another possible method of producing the surfactant granules accordingto the invention is to subject the water-containing pastes of components(a) and (b) to vacuum drying. In this process, the water-containingpastes of the surfactants according to the invention, for example a 30to 65% by weight aqueous paste, are completely concentrated byevaporation and the water-free residue is subsequently ground up intogranules.

Commercial Applications

The granules according to the invention consist of components (a) and(b) in the following quantities (based on the solids component):

(a) 75 to 97, preferably 85 to 95% by weight fatty alcohol sulfate and

(b) 3 to 25, preferably 5 to 15% by weight olefin sulfonates,

with the proviso that the quantities add up to 100% by weight. Thequantities shows are based on the active substance content of thecomponents. The granules according to the invention may still containresidual quantities of water, preferably below 5% by weight, based onthe granules, after the simultaneous drying and granulation process.

The solubility of the fatty alcohol sulfate granules can be considerablyimproved by the addition of the olefin sulfonates. Accordingly, thepresent invention also relates to the use of olefin sulfonates inquantities of 3 to 25% by weight for improving the solubility of fattyalcohol sulfate granules in cold water.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the olefinsulfonate/fatty alcohol sulfate granules are used for the production oflaundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaners. They may bepresent in typical quantities, preferably in the range from 0.1 to 30%by weight, based on the detergent/cleaner.

Besides the granules according to the invention, the laundry detergents,dishwashing detergents and cleaners may contain other typicalingredients such as, for example, anionic surfactants, nonionicsurfactants, builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, detergencyboosters, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, redeposition inhibitors, opticalbrighteners, soil repellents, foam inhibitors, inorganic salts, dyes andperfumes.

Typical examples of anionic surfactants are soaps, alkyl benzenesulfonates, alkane sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, glycerol ethersulfonates, α-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, fatty alcoholether sulfates, glycerol ether sulfates, fatty acid ether sulfates,hydroxy mixed ether sulfates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acidamide (ether) sulfates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinates, mono- anddialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ethercarboxylic acids and salts thereof, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acidsarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, N-acyl amino acids such as, forexample, acyl lactylates, acyl tartrates, acyl glutamates and acylaspartates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates, protein fatty acidcondensates (more particularly vegetable wheat-based products) and alkyl(ether)phosphates. Where the anionic surfactants contain polyglycolether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution althoughthey preferably have a narrow homolog distribution. Typical examples ofnonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkyl phenolpolyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amidepolyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylatedtriglycerides, mixed ethers and mixed formals, optionally partlyoxidized alk(en)yl oligoglycosides and glucuronic acid derivatives,fatty acid-N-alkyl glucamides, protein hydrolyzates (more particularlyvegetable wheat-based N products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugaresters, sorbitan esters, polysorbates and amine oxides. Where thenonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have aconventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrowhomolog distribution.

A suitable solid builder is, in particular, finely crystalline zeolitecontaining synthetic and bound water, such as detergent-quality zeoliteNaA. However, zeolite NaX and mixtures of NaA and NaX are also suitable.The zeolite may be used in the form of a spray-dried powder or even asan undried stabilized suspension still moist from its production. Wherethe zeolite is used in the form of a suspension, the suspension maycontain small additions of nonionic surfactants as stabilizers, forexample 1 to 3% by weight—based on zeolite—of ethoxylated C₁₂₋₁₈ fattyalcohols containing 2 to 5 ethylene oxide groups or ethoxylatedisotridecanols. Suitable zeolites have a mean particle size of less than10 μm (volume distribution, as measured by the Coulter Counter Method)and contain preferably 18 to 22% by weight and more preferably 20 to 22%by weight of bound water. Suitable substitutes or partial substitutesfor zeolites are crystalline layer-form sodium silicates with thegeneral formula NaMSi_(x)O_(2x+1).yH₂O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, xis a number of 1.9 to 4 and y is a number of 0 to 20, referred valuesfor x being 2, 3 or 4. Crystalline layer silicates such as these aredescribed, for example, in European patent application EP 0 164 514 A.Preferred crystalline layer silicates are those in which M in thegeneral formula stands for sodium and x assumes the value 2 or 3. Bothβ- and γ-sodium disilicates Na₂Si₂O5.yH₂O are particularly preferred,γsodium disilicate being obtainable for example by the process describedin International patent application WO 91/08171.The powder formdetergents according to the invention preferably contain 10 to 60% byweight of zeolite and/or crystalline layer silicates as solid builders,mixtures of zeolite and crystalline layer silicates in any ratio beingparticularly advantageous. In one particularly preferred embodiment, thedetergents contain 20 to 50% by weight of zeolite and/or crystallinelayer silicates. Particularly preferred detergents contain up to 40% byweight of zeolite and, more particularly, up to 35% by weight ofzeolite, based on water-free active substance. Other suitableingredients of the detergents are water-soluble amorphous silicateswhich are preferably used in combination with zeolite and/or crystallinelayer silicates. Particularly preferred detergents are those whichcontain above all sodium silicate with a molar ratio of Na₂O to SiO₂(modulus) of 1:1 to 1:4.5 and preferably 1;2 to 1:3.5. The amorphoussodium silicate content of the detergents is preferably up to 15% byweight and more preferably from 2 to 8% by weight. Phosphates, such astripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates and orthophosphates, may also bepresent in the detergents in small quantities. The phosphate content ofthe detergents is preferably up to 15% by weight and, more particularly,from 0 to 10% by weight. In addition, the detergents may contain layersilicates of natural and synthetic origin. Corresponding layer silicatesare known, for example, from patent applications DE 23 34 899 B, EP 0026 529 A and DE 35 26 405 A. Their suitability for use is not confinedto a particular composition or structural formula. However, smectitesare preferred, bentonites being particularly preferred. Suitable layersilicates which belong to the group of water-swellable smectites are,for example, those corresponding to the following general formulae:

(OH)₄Si_(8-y)Al_(y)(Mg_(x)Al_(4-x))O₂₀ montmorillonite(OH)₄Si_(8-y)Al_(y)(Mg_(6-z)Li_(z))O₂₀ hectorite(OH)₄Si_(8-y)Al_(y)(Mg_(6-z)Al_(z))O₂₀ saponite

where x=0 to 4, y=0 to 2 and z=0 to 6.In addition, small quantities ofiron may be incorporated in the crystal lattice of the layer silicatescorresponding to the above formulae. By virtue of their ion-exchangingproperties, the layer silicates may also contain hydrogen, alkali metaland alkaline earth metal ions, more particularly Na⁺and Ca²⁺. Thequantity of water of hydration is generally in the range from 8 to 20%by weight and is dependent upon the degree of swelling and upon theprocessing method. Suitable layer silicates are known, for example, fromU.S. Pat. No. 3,966,629, U.S. Pat. No. 4,062, 647, EP 0 026 529 A and EP0 028 432 A. Layer silicates which have been substantially freed fromcalcium ions and strongly coloring iron ions by an alkali treatment arepreferably used. Useful organic builders are, for example, thepolycarboxylic acids preferably used in the form of their sodium salts,such as citric acid, adipic acidic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid,tartaric acid, sugar acids, aminocarboxylic acids, nitrilotriacetic acid(NTA), providing their use is not ecologically unsafe, and mixturesthereof. Preferred salts are the salts of polycarboxylic acids, such ascitric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid,sugar acids and mixtures thereof. Suitable polymeric polycarboxylatesare, for example, the sodium salts of polyacrylic acid orpolymethacrylic acid, for example those with a relative molecular weightof 800 to 150,000 (based on acid). Suitable copolymeric polycarboxylatesare, in particular, those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid andacrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Copolymers of acrylicacid with maleic acid which contain 50 to 90% by weight of acrylic acidand 50 to 10% by weight of maleic acid are particularly suitable. Theirrelative molecular weight, based on free acids, is generally in therange from 5,000 to 200,000, preferably in the range from 10,000 to120,000 and more preferably in the range from 50,000 to 100,000. It isnot absolutely essential to use polymeric polycarboxylates. However, ifpolymeric polycarboxylates are used, detergents containing biodegradablepolymers, for example terpolymers which contain acrylic acid and maleicacid or salts thereof and vinyl alcohol or vinyl alcohol derivatives asmonomers or acrylic acid and 2-alkyl allyl sulfonic acid or saltsthereof and sugar derivatives as monomers are preferred. The terpolymersobtained in accordance with the teaching of German patent applicationsDE 42 21 381 A and DE 43 00 772 A are particularly preferred. Othersuitable builders are polyacetals which may be obtained by reactingdialdehydes with polyol carboxylic acids containing 5 to 7 carbon atomsand at least 3 hydroxyl groups, for example as described in Europeanpatent application EP 0 280 223 A. Preferred polyacetals are obtainedfrom dialdehydes, such as glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, terephthal-aldehydeand mixtures thereof and from polyol carboxylic acids, such as gluconicacid and/or glucoheptonic acid.

Among the compounds yielding hydrogen peroxide in water which are usedas bleaching agents, sodium perborate tetrahydrate and sodium perboratemonohydrate are particularly important. Other suitable bleaching agentsare, for example, peroxycarbonate, citrate perhydrates and salts ofperacids, such as perbenzoates, peroxyphthalates ordiperoxydodecane-dioic acid. They are normally used in quantities of 8to 25% by weight. Sodium perborate monohydrate is preferred and is usedin quantities of 10 to 20% by weight and preferably in quantities of 10to 15% by weight. By virtue of its ability to bind free water to formthe tetrahydrate, it contributes towards increasing the stability of thedetergent.

In order to obtain an improved bleaching effect where washing is carriedout at temperatures of 60° C. or lower, bleach activators may beincorporated in the preparations. Examples of bleach activators areN-acyl and O-acyl compounds which form organic peracids with hydrogenperoxide, preferably N,N′-tetraacylated diamines, also carboxylicanhydrides and esters of polyols, such as glucose pentaacetate. Thebleach activator content of bleach-containing detergents is in the usualrange, i.e. preferably between 1 and 10% by weight and more preferablybetween 3 and 8% by weight. Particularly preferred bleach activators areN,N,N′,N′-tetraacetyl ethylenediamine and1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine.

Suitable enzymes are those from the class of proteases, lipases,amylases, cellulases and mixtures thereof. Enzymes obtained frombacterial strains or fungi, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacilluslicheniformis and Streptomyces griseus, are particularly suitable.Proteases of the subtilisin type are preferably used, proteases obtainedfrom Bacillus lentus being particularly preferred. They may be used inquantities of about 0.2 to about 2% by weight. The enzymes may beadsorbed onto supports and/or embedded in shell-forming materials toprotect them against premature decomposition. In addition to themonohydric and polyhydric alcohols and the phosphonates, the detergentsmay contain other enzyme stabilizers. For example, 0.5 to 1% by weightof sodium formate may be used. It is also possible to use proteaseswhich are stabilized with soluble calcium salts and which have a calciumcontent of preferably about 1.2% by weight, based on the enzyme.However, it is of particular advantage to use boron compounds, forexample boric acid, boron oxide, borax and other alkali metal borates,such as the salts of orthoboric acid (H₃BO₃), metaboric acid (HBO₂) andpyroboric acid (tetraboric acid H₂B₄O₇).

The function of redeposition inhibitors is to keep the soil detachedfrom the fibers suspended in the wash liquor and thus to preventdiscoloration. Suitable redeposition inhibitors are water-soluble,generally organic colloids, for example the water-soluble salts ofpolymeric carboxylic acids, glue, gelatin, salts of ether carboxylicacids or ether sulfonic acids of starch or cellulose or salts of acidicsulfuric acid esters of cellulose or starch. Water-soluble polyamidescontaining acidic groups are also suitable for this purpose. Solublestarch preparations and other starch products than those mentionedabove, for example degraded starch, aldehyde starches, etc., may also beused. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone is also suitable. However, cellulose ethers,such as carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose, and mixed ethers, such as methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose,methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl carboxy-methyl cellulose andmixtures thereof, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone are preferably used, forexample in quantities of 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the detergent.

The detergents may contain derivatives of diaminostilbene disulfonicacid or alkali metal salts thereof as optical brighteners. Suitableoptical brighteners are, for example, salts of4,4′-bis-(2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl6-aminoystilbene-2,2′-disulfonicacid or compounds of similar structure which, instead of the morpholinogroup, contain a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, an anilinogroup or a 2-methoxyethylamino group. Brighteners of the substituteddiphenyl styryl type, for example alkali metal salts of4,4′-bis-(2-sulfostyrylydiphenyl,4,4′-bis-(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)-diphenyl or4-(4-chlorostyryl)4′-(2-sulfostyryl)diphenyl, may also be present.Mixtures of the brighteners mentioned above may also be used. Uniformlywhite granules are obtained if, in addition to the usual brighteners inthe usual quantities, for example between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight andpreferably between 0.1 and 0.3% by weight, the detergents also containsmall quantifies, for example 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³% by weight and preferablyaround 10⁻⁵% by weight, of a blue dye. A particularly preferred dye isTinolux® (a product of Ciba-Geigy).

Suitable soil repellents are substances which preferably containethylene terephthalate and/or polyethylene glycol terephthalate groups,the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene glycolterephthalate being in the range from 50:50 to 90:10.The molecularweight of the linking polyethylene glycol units is more particularly inthe range from 750 to 5,000, i.e. the degree of ethoxylation of thepolymers containing poly-ethylene glycol groups may be about 15 to 100.The polymers are distinguished by an average molecular weight of about5,000 to 200,000 and may have a block structure, but preferably have arandom structure. Preferred polymers are those with molar ethyleneterephthalate: polyethylene glycol terephthalate ratios of about 65:35to about 90:10 and preferably in the range from about 70:30 to 80:20.Other preferred polymers are those which contain linking polyethyleneglycol units with a molecular weight of 750 to 5,000 and preferably inthe range from 1,000 to about 3,000 and which have a molecular weight ofthe polymer of about 10,000 to about 50,000. Examples of commerciallyavailable polymers are the products Milease® T (ICI) or Repelotex® SRP 3(Rhône-Poulenc).

Where the detergents are used in washing machines, it can be ofadvantage to add conventional foam Inhibitors to them. Suitable foaminhibitors are, for example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin whichhave a high percentage of C₁₈₋₂₄ fatty acids. Suitablenon-surface-active foam inhibitors are, for example, organopolysiloxanesand mixtures thereof with microfine, optionally silanized silica andparaffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and mixtures thereof withsilanized silica of bis-stearyl ethylenediamide. Mixtures of variousfoam inhibitors, for example mixtures of silicones, paraffins or waxes,may also be used with advantage. The foam inhibitors, more particularlysilicone- or paraffin-containing foam inhibitors, are preferably fixedto a granular water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier/support.Mixtures of paraffins and bis-stearyl ethylenediamides are particularlypreferred.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Water-containing pastes of C_(16/18) fatty alcohol sulfates and variousquantities of α-olefin sulfonate [sodium olefin sulfonate (C₁₄₋₁₆),Elfan® OS 46, Azko Nobel, 1]C_(12/14) fatty alcohol sulfate sodium salt(C1) and ocenol sulfate sodium salt (C2) were subjected to vacuum dryingand then ground into granules. The solubility of these granules wastested in a hand washing test and the residue in % by weight wasdetermined (Table 1). Even when added to the C_(16/18) fatty alcoholsulfate in a quantity of 5%, the α-olefin sulfonate improves itsdissolving and dispersing behavior by comparison with C1 and C2.

TABLE 1 Solubility of C_(16/18) fatty alcohol in the hand washing test(% by weight residue) 1 C1 C2 Addition α-OlefinC_(12/14 Fatty alcohol sulfate) Ocenol sulfate (% by wt.) sulfonatesodium salt sodium salt  5 6.6 37.4 32.4 10 4.4 37.0 32.2 15 9.0*) 36.728.0 *)The results can be falsified by gelation

Example 2

Starting materials

(a) C_(16/18) fatty alcohol sulfate Sulfopon® T 55 (51.5% by weightactive substance)

(b) α-Olefin sulfonate Elfan® OS 46 (37.0% by weight active substance)

(c) C_(12/14) fatty alcohol sulfate Texapon® LS 35 (35.2% by weightactive substance)

(d) Ocenol sulfate sodium salt (59.7% by weight active substance)

TABLE 2 Concentrations of the water-containing pastes used (% by weight)Composition 1 2 3 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 (a) + (b) 93.18 86.60 80.28 — — — —— — 6.82 13.40 19.72 (a) + (c) — — — 92.85 86.02 79.48 — — — 7.15 13.9820.52 (a) + (d) — — — — — — 95.65 91.25 86.77 4.35 8.75 13.23 Paste50.51 49.56 48.64 50.33 49.22 48.16 51.86 52.22 52.28 concentrationPercentage 5 10 15 — — — — — — (b) of paste Percentage — — — 5 10 15 — —— (c) of paste Percentage — — — — — — 5 10 15 (d) of paste

Production of the Granules in a Fluidized Bed

Water-containing pastes 1 to 3 according to the invention and comparisonpastes C1 to C6 were sprayed into the fluidized bed in various testbatches.

Process parameters: Feed air: 720 to 750 Nm/h Feed air temperature: 140to 150° C. Air exit temperature: 80 to 85° C. Quantity sprayed: 21 to 30kg/h Exhaust air: 120 to 130 Nm/h Duration of test: 4 h Quantity ofproduct: 15 kg

Bulk density: 500 to 650 g/l Active substance content: 88 to 97%Residual moisture: 2.0 to 3.0%

Solubility test:

The solubility of the granules obtained (1, C1 and C4) was tested in ahand washing test and the residue was determined. Surfactant granuleswhich contain 5% by weight α-olefin sulfonate in addition to 95% byweight C_(16/18) fatty alcohol sulfate (1) show improved solubility(residue: 7.0% by weight) by comparison with granules containing 5% byweight of C_(12/14) fatty alcohol sulfate (C1, residue: 40.0% by weight)or ocenol sulfate sodium salt (C4, residue: 35.0% by weight).

What is claimed is:
 1. A surfactant composition comprising: (a) fromabout 75 to 97% by weight of a fatty alcohol sulfate; and (b) from about3 to 25% by weight of an olefin sulfonate, all weights being based onthe total weight of the composition, and wherein the composition is ingranular form.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fatty alcoholsulfate is present in the composition in an amount of from about 85 to95% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.
 3. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein the olefin sulfonate is present in thecomposition in an amount of from about 5 to 15% by weight, based on theweight of the composition.
 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein thefatty alcohol sulfate corresponds to formula I: R¹O-SO₃X  (I) wherein R¹is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radicalcontaining from about 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and is an alkali metal oralkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkenolammonium orglucammonium.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the olefin sulfonateis derived by: (a) addition of SO₃ onto an olefin corresponding toformula II: R²-CH═CH-R³  (II) wherein R² and R³, Independently of oneanother, represent H or alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 20carbon atoms, with the proviso that R² and R³ together contain at least6 carbon atoms; (b) hydrolysis; and (c) neutralization.
 6. Thecomposition of claim 1 wherein the olefin sulfonate comprises: (a) ca.60% by weight of alkane sulfonate; and (b) ca. 40% by weight ofhydroxyalkane sulfonate of which 80 to 85% by weight are monosulfonateand 15 to 20% by weight are disulfonate.
 7. A process for makingsurfactant granules comprising: (a) providing an aqueous pastecontaining 75 to 97% by weight of a fatty alcohol sulfate; (b) providing3 to 25% of an olefin sulfonate; and (c) simultaneously drying andgranulating the fatty alcohol sulfate and olefin sulfonate.
 8. Theprocess of claim 7 wherein the fatty alcohol sulfate corresponds toformula I: R¹O-SO₃X  (I) wherein R¹ is a linear or branched, saturatedor unsaturated hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to 18 carbonatoms, and X is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium.
 9. The process of claim 7wherein the olefin sulfonate is derived by: (a) addition of SO₃ onto anolefin corresponding to formula II: R²-CH═CH-R³  (II) wherein R² and R³,independently of one another, represent H or alkyl groups containingfrom 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R² and R³together contain at least 6 carbon atoms; (b) hydrolysis; and (c)neutralization.
 10. The process of claim 7 wherein step (c) is performedin a fluidized bed.
 11. A cleaning composition containing the surfactantcomposition of claim
 1. 12. The composition of claim 11 wherein theolefin sulfonate is combined with the fatty alcohol sulfate in an amountof from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of thecomposition.